Projection apparatus for chance selected indicia



Dec. 28, 1948. H. E. sEAMAN PROJECTION APPARATUS FOR CHANCE SELECTED INDICIA Filed F'eb. 2l, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec; z8, 194s. H, E, SEAMAN' 2,457,280

PROJECTIN APPARATUS FOR CHANCE SELECTED INDIGIA 'Y INVENToR. Hara/a /1' .Seaman -Wmm www Patented Dec. 28, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PROJECTION APPARATUS FOR CHANCE SELECTED INDICIA 3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in number projectors. that is to say machines for projecting onto a screen a light beam carrying an image of a number or a series of dots equal t the number, or any other indicia presented to the beam of light by a revolving member after it has come to rest, the particular indicia presented depending upon chance.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of an apparatus for displaying to a largaI assembly of people numbers or other indicia selee-ted by chance.

Another object is the provision of a projector of the character stated wherein the manual operating mechanism for determining by chance the indicia projected is not readily susceptible of being rigged.

Another object is the provision of the apparatus of the character stated wherein the image carrying member is a ring which is loosely mounted on a supporting head and arranged to be given a rotative impulse by the head, carrying the ring beyond the angle of rotation of the head.

Other objects and features of novelty will appear as I proceed with the description of that embodiment of the invention which, for the purposes of the present invention, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an elevational side view partly broken away and partly in Vertical section, showing a projector embodying the invention,

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same,

Fig. 3 is a front view, partly in section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a rear elevational view,

Fig. 5 is a face View on a larger scale of the hollow head and the image ring loosely supported thereupon, forming important elements of my invention. and

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatical view showing one arrangement of number indicia which may be used in carrying out the invention.

In the drawings I have shown at I0 a base upon which may be secured by means of screws I I a sheet metal cover or casing I2. Within this casing there is a framework that may be secured to the base by means of screws I3. In this framework there are mounted two ball bearings I 4- rotatably supporting a horizontal shaft I5 which projects rearwardly out of the casing and carries at its free end an operating arm or handle I6.

The forward end of shaft I5 carries a hollow head I'l of generally cylindrical shape which may be fixed in position upon the shaft by a set screw I8. Within the cylindrical cavity in the head there is mounted a sheet metal lining member 20 from which lips are struck up to grip opposite ends of an inclined mirror 2I. At the forward end of the head and extending beyond it peripherally there is an annular sheet metal plate 22 secured in place by screws 8. The central opening of the plate is of approximately the same diameter as theinternal diameter of the head. An integral lip 23 struck out from this plate is provided with a constriction which receives a loop on the inner end of a tension spring 24, the outer end of which is secured by suitable means to a side member of the frame. The function of this spring is toreturn the head and shaft to the illustrated angular position after each actuation of the handle I6. Hence the mirror 2I also stands in the illustrated position at all times except when the shaft I5 and head Il are in motion. At the bottom of the head when it is stationary there is an opening 25 directly underneath the mirror. Movement of the shaft and head axially is prevented by the engagement of the head with the inner race of one of the bearings I4 and by engagement of a collar 9 with the inner race of the other bearing. The head II has a minimum diameter portion 26 and an intermediate diameter portion 2'l. Both of these portions are cylindrical.

There is also a third portion 28 which may be of slightly greater diameter than the portion 21. This third portion, which is at the forward end of the head, is provided on its upper side with two spaced-apart flats 30 projecting outwardly beyond the surface 28. In the present instance each of these flats extends through an angle of approximately 36 and the space between them also occupies 36. A ring 3l loosely surrounds this forward portion of the head and is supported thereby.

After it is placed in position during assembly a collar 32 is pressed onto the portion 2l of the head. Clearance is provided between plate 22 and collar 32 on the one hand and ring 3| on the other, so that the former elements merely guide the ring in its rotational movements without presenting undue friction.

Ring 3| is divided into'a predetermined number of equal sections, I0 in the illustrated case, and each of these sections has parallel inner 'and outer flat surfaces. The inner flats cooperate with the flats 30 on the head so that when the head is rotated a rotational impulse is imparted to the ring which, because of its greater inner dimension, is free to revolve relative to the head.

Suitable means is provided for constituting each of the sections of ring 30 an image forming "section. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the images are formed by the transmission of light through the sections, although it will be apparent that by suitable changes in the conruction the images could be formed by the reflection of light from the section surfaces. In the present case the images are the ten digits from to 9 inclusive, and as a convenient means for displaying these digits I may bore holes of the proper number through each section, indicated at 35 in the drawing. The digit 0 may be formed by a relatively large hole 3B. These holes are projected on the screen as bright dots. Their arrangement in the ring may be as indicated in` Fig. 6, or otherwise.

38 is a small projection bulb of the type commonly employed in photographic slide projectors. Current may be supplied from" a fservice line through a conductor 39 by way of a switch 40 controlled by lever 4|, from the switch by way of a conductor 42 to the center contact on the bulb, returning by way of the outer bulb Contact and the' bulb socket to a terminal 43 and then through a conductor 44 back to the line.

A pair of condenser lenses '45, 4B are mounted inthe framework between the bulb 38 and the forward 4part 28 of the head so that a. beam of light may be transmitted from the bulb through the lowermost section of ring 3| and through the opening 25 in the head. The mirror 2| then deects the beam through a pair of projection lenses 41 and 48 mounted in a tube 49 which is adjustably carried in a larger tube 50 that is mounted in and extends through the casing I2.

While in most cases the ring 3l will be brought to correct position for projection of the image by reason of its tending to settle into lcontact with'ithe two ats 30 on the head, I prefer to provide means for definitely insuring proper alignment of the ring relative to the light system. In the embodiment illustrated I provide mechanical means for this purpose. It comprises a metal bar 52 of appreciable weight having a at undersurface biased downward by gravity to engage the uppermost external at on the ring and insure the latter coming to rest with its lowermost section in the direct path of the light beam. For this purpose the ends of bar 52 may be of lessened height as shown in Fig. 3 and may be provided with holes in which supporting bolts 53 vare loosely received. Nuts 54 serve to adjust the lheight of the bolt heads. The nuts 54 bear against the upper sides of frame members 55 which are provided with holes for the bolts. When the head is rotated', causing the ring 3| torevolve, the bar 52 will vibrate up and down as the ring revolves beneath it. The bar therefore acts as abrake as well as a means for bringingthe ring to rest with its lower section in centered position,

The light system need not necessarily be disposed as shown in the drawing. In a case, for example, where the condenser lenses are mounted in alignment with the projection lenses the mirror can be omitted andthe light beam can'be projected laterally through a ring sectionr the image forming portion of each section then extending sidewise of the ring rather "than"radi ally thereof. It will be appreciated also that more than one ring may be'ei'nployed, each :ring moving independently of the other, when it is desired to Vproject numbers made up of `more than one digit.

Inirthe operation of the device the handle r|6 may. be given one or more. complete tums,.or menely.a=portion owf-a turn. As soon as it isrreleased by the operator shaft |5 under the inuence of spring 24 will return quickly to its illustrated position. The ring will have received a rotational impulse which will carry it around for an appreciable time after the head returns to its initial position, the extent of movement of the ring depending largely upon the initial force applied to handle I6. The mirror 2| of course turns 'with the {head 'buta'ssoon-'as the latter comes to rest the'flight 'beam is reflected by the mirror through the projection lenses. The beam is interrupted of course so long as the ring revolves. When it comes to rest the image forming portion of the lowermost section comes into proper alignment under the biasing influence of bar 52 and the image is projected. The oscillating movement of the head in coming to rest assists the action of bar 52 in properly centering the ring.

The ring 3| and the head |'l should be made of steel. They should be accurately shaped, as by broaching, and they should be heat treated to a hardness that will minimize friction *andA wear.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In apparatus of the character described, a horizontal shaft having a head, means for rotating said shaft and i-eturninglit to a predetermined angular position, said head `having a at .portion adjacent its normally upper side, a ring loose upon said head, said ring having a series lof image forming sections, each of which hasl an internal'and an external flat, each of 'said internal iiats being adapted to engage the nat portion of said head, means for causing a beam 'of light to impinge upon a section occupying a predetermined angular position, and for projecting said beam, and a yield'able member `biased 'toward said ring having a na't surface' adapteelito ride against the ring as the latter revoives and by engagement with an external flat 4to center a ring section with respect to said light "beam when the ring comes to rest.

2. In apparatus `of the character described, -a horizontal shaft having a head, meansfo'r rotating `said shaft and returning it to a predeter mined angular position, a ring loose uponsaid head, said ring having a series of image forming sections, each of which has an internal andjan external flat, a pair of spaced ats on the side of said head which is uppermost when the head is at rest adapted to engage 'spaced internal flats on said ring, means for projecting a beanrof light through a ring section occupying a 'predetermined angular position, and a yieldable member disposed above the uppermost section of the ring having a fiat surface adapted to ride over.

the ring as the latter revolves and *ny 'engagement with the external at on the uppermost section of the ring to center a section with respectV to said light beam.

3. In apparatus of the character describenLa horizontal shaft having a hollow head of igenerally cylindrical form, a ring surrounding and loosely supported on said head, means for rotating said shaft and returning it to a predetermined angular position, the supporting surface.

on said head imparting a rotational impulse to said ring when the head is rotated, meansfor automatically stopping said ring in any one of a plurality of predetermined angular positions, said ring having an image forming section corresponding to each of said positions, said cylindrical head having an opening through its 'side which is lowermost when the head is stationary;

said head containing an inclined mirror, means for projecting a beam of light upwardly through one of-@id image forming sections, through said opening' and against said mirror, and projecting means including a. projection lens through which the beam of light is directed by said mirror.

HAROLD E. SEAMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Niunber Name Date Hagan May 11, 1926 Culp Dec. 18. 1928 Weber May 10, 1932 Karp Api. 13, 193? Stitt Jan. 18, 1933 Brady Feb. 22. 1938 Potter Dec. 6, 1938 Teague et a1. Nov. 12, 1940 Kessler Feb. 25, 1941 

